The NFL may be cracking down on unsportsmanlike conduct in a big way next season. The league is strongly mulling over instituting a new rule that would lead to an automatic ejection for players hit with two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a single game.
The proposal, originally suggested last month by commissioner Roger Goodell, will be discussed at next week's annual NFL owners meeting.
As the rule stands now, several personal fouls could lead to an automatic ejection. The new rule would be limited only to a few sportsmanship infractions. Competition committee co-chariman Rich McKay says that only two players would have been ejected last year under the proposed new rule.
In other rules news, Mckay and NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent have confirmed that the league would not be making any changes to the divisive catch rule that mandates that receivers maintain control of the ball until they "become a runner."
McKay claimed that the rule raises questions on less than six passes per season. Last year, upwards of 18,000 passes were thrown. Vincent said that the NFL would try to better educate fans, media and players on the rule this year.
The NFL's ejection rule, however, will be changing. Vincent said that referee officials will be told again that they can eject players for flagrant fouls at any point in the game. If a player breaks two of the three new rules, they will be ejected automatically. The rule proposal focuses on:
1. "Throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent, even though no contact is made."
2. "Using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League."
3. "Using baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams."
This proposal will require support from a minimum of 24 team owners to be approved.
Other rule proposals and changes include:
- "Make permanent the one-year 2015 experiment to place the extra point kick at the 15-yard line."
- "Make all chop blocks illegal."
- "Allow coaches in the press box to communicate directly with players on the field, rather than through a coach on the sideline."
- "Expand the horse-collar rule to include instances where a defender grabs the ball carrier by the back of the jersey near the nameplate."
- "Allow coaches and players to view game video on sideline tablets during games, rather than only showing them still photographs."
